His thoughts splintered as a knock echoed through the apartment, jolting them both. Their heads snapped toward the door in unison, the sound cutting through the heavy haze of pheromones. 

“Just ignore it,” he said quickly, words tumbling out in an annoyed breath. “They likely have the wrong—” But his voice faltered, dying in his throat as Rian pushed to his feet, wiping the cum from his cheek with the back of his hand before shoving his still-hard dick back into his pants. The zipper rasped harshly in the quiet room, and Rian didn’t spare him a glance, striding toward the door with that same unreadable intent etched into his posture.

Kaiseng’s stomach twisted, a surge of possessive heat flaring hot in his chest. “Rian,” he barked, sitting up straighter on the couch, one hand still gripping his softening cock. The omega’s scent lingered thick in the air—sweet and musky, spiked with arousal and that underlying edge of heat that made Kaiseng’s knot pulse anew, fueling the instincts inside him to yank Rian back, pin him down, and finish what they’d started.

Rian paused at the door, hand resting on the knob. He glanced back over his shoulder—lips still glossy, eyes dark and unapologetic. The knock came again, more insistent, three hesitant raps that vibrated through the wood. 

“Rian—” Kaiseng started, too late.

The door opened.

Kaiseng shifted on the couch, breath still unsteady, pulse thudding in his ears. From there, he could see the door at an angle.

“I—sorry,” a voice said. Polite. Uncertain. “I think I might have the wrong—”

Kaiseng frowned.

Rian leaned into the frame, blocking most of the view. “Are you looking for Kaiseng?”

There was a pause. Just long enough to make Kaiseng’s stomach tighten as the voice registered in his mind.

Bellamy.

“Yeah,” Bellamy said slowly. “But—”

Rian’s head tilted, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

“Do you want to join us?”

Kaiseng didn’t hear anything after that. Blood roared in his ears as he surged off the couch, panic and fury tangling together as he crossed the room. By the time he reached the entryway, the door was already closing.

The latch clicked.

Bellamy was gone.

Kaiseng stood there, chest heaving, staring at the wood like it might split open if he looked hard enough. His hands shook.

Rian turned back to him slowly.

That was when Kaiseng snapped.

He slammed Rian back against the door, forearm braced hard at his throat, the impact echoing through the apartment. Rian let out a breathless, startled laugh, the sound curling warm and dangerous in Kaiseng’s ear.

“Does he know,” Rian murmured, swallowing against Kaiseng’s arm, eyes bright with something sharp and knowing, “what kind of alpha you are?”

“Shut up,” Kaiseng growled.

Rian didn’t stop smiling. “Don’t you wish your pheromones worked on me?” he went on softly. “That I’d submit. That I’d break. Wouldn’t that make this easier?”

Kaiseng’s grip faltered.

“That’s how you know this is real,” Rian continued, voice almost gentle now. “I don’t love you because I have to.”

Kaiseng shoved him away. “You did this,” he said hoarsely. “I don’t know how—but you did.”